Aurora Lodge: A Harmonious Blend of Design and Nature

Snorre Stinessen's A-Frame Chalet Wins Silver A' Design Award

The inspiration for the Aurora Lodge came from the natural terrain itself. Stinessen designed the lodge to echo a fundamental shelter, with a simple A-frame design tilted back from the seaside. This angle aligns the roof with the surrounding terrain, providing privacy on one side and panoramic views on the other. The concrete floor and terraces are an extension of the natural terrain, blurring the line between the built and the natural environment.

What sets the Aurora Lodge apart is its respect for its surroundings. The main building stretches out across a natural plateau, just behind a single line of trees. High ceilings and seamless glass walls invite the sky and landscape into the building, creating a sense of unity with nature. The lodge comprises two units within the main structure, a separate suite, and a sauna across the creek, all designed to complement the site.

Construction of the lodge presented a unique set of challenges due to its remote location and the demands of a very advanced construction. The building is clad in copper to withstand the salinity of the ocean air, and glass panels up to six meters in height are glued directly to the steel pillars. The construction required millimeter precision in all elements, including the placement of the glass panels.

The lodge offers a fully independent communal living space, five bedrooms with private en-suite bathrooms, and a main kitchen and dining room designed like a winter garden observatory. A separate annex/suite and a sauna provide additional spaces for relaxation and enjoyment of the stunning views.

Stinessen's meticulous planning and design paid off when the Aurora Lodge was awarded Silver in the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2022. The award recognizes top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. It is a testament to Stinessen's ability to create a design that both respects and embraces its fantastic natural surroundings.